Written evidence submitted by St Paul’s Cathedral

In response to the inquiry from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to examine how to prevent the loss and decline of historic buildings and other sites of heritage amid warnings of the serious financial and practical challenges many face, St Paul’s Cathedral duly submit their response.

Executive Summary

The Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral are responsible for the magnificent cathedral as a Grade I listed structure, the Chapter House, Grade II Wren building, currently used as the offices for St Paul’s.  We also have 9 listed residential buildings in Amen Court and an estate in Tillingham consisting 120 acres, with various farming and residential buildings in a conservation area.  The maintenance, adaption, repair and conservation is funded by the corporate income of St Paul’s activities, generous giving by the community, and rental income from Tillingham.  It costs £16.4m per year in 2025 just to keep the doors open at St Paul’s.  In return, we bring the nation together as a community in worship, provide access to one of the world’s most magnificent buildings, and provide events for all.  We have a conservation deficit in the region of £60m.

1. What are the most significant challenges facing owners and operators of built heritage assets, and how are they affecting what those sites can offer?

Cost of maintenance – VAT 20%

Lack of heritage craft skills – need more apprentices

Minimal funding sources available – need to keep the Listed Places of Worship scheme

Litigious society – risk of slips, trips, falls on uneven ground

Climate change and the impact of higher winds, increased severe water events have on historic buildings.

• What interventions are needed to prevent the managed decline of heritage assets on publicly-owned land?

Understand the significance and government to intervene if the loss is that of national importance.  And/ or methods to record the decline

Encourage apprenticeships in heritage craft skills as a great career opportunity

Provide funding to prevent the loss of cultural and tangible heritage

• What can the Government do to make it easier for communities or local businesses to take ownership of historic buildings?

Training, communication, building advice to community groups and volunteers

Ensure local authorities have specialist capabilities and access to training

Grants, subsidies and funding

2. How effective are the current funding and finance models for built heritage?

• What should long-term public funding for the sector look like?

Direct investment from government or tax incentives (Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has only been extended by one year with limited funds)

Reduce VAT

3. What role does built heritage play in the regeneration of local areas and in contributing to economic growth and community identity?

Heritage led economic development has transformed many town centres and high streets.   People enjoy historic settings.

• How can heritage buildings be supported to increase energy efficiency and contribute to the Government’s net zero targets?

•              Conservation of the historic built environment is a sustainable activity.

•              The historic built environment is a non-renewable resource and securing its long-term survival is an essential component of sustainable development.

•              Historic buildings contain large amounts of embodied energy and carbon. Further energy and carbon release is required to destroy them and construct replacements, therefore re-use of both buildings and places is desirable. Judgements on retention need to balance architectural and historic significance against any wider benefits that might arise from replacement and redevelopment.

•              Most historic have outlived the design life of modern buildings. The longer buildings can survive, the greater the contribution of their embodied energy to sustainability. Traditional building materials such as brick and stone tend to be very durable and their appearance often improves with age. Modern materials tend to be less durable and their appearance often degrades with age, and does not respond to the climate challenges.

•              Maintenance and repair are essential investments. Poor maintenance not only hastens decay, it also makes them less comfortable and higher energy use. Repair is a fundamental consideration in improving energy efficiency.

•              Buildings of traditional construction may not naturally perform as well as well-designed modern buildings in terms of such matters as energy efficiency. However, there is often scope to improve their performance, through appropriate repairs and adaptations conceived with sensitivity and understanding. Provided alterations to historic buildings consider the buildings holistically, taking account of functional performance, historic fabric, architectural issues such as character and appearance, and the need to optimise medium to long term performance, they can usually be made more energy efficient. This is where we need the knowledge, and support of local authorities.

•              Traditionally constructed historic buildings have the potential to contribute to a sustainable future, provided they are treated with respect. Many will offer scope for adaptation to enhance performance. Where retrofit adaptations would result in a degree of harm to architectural and historic value, a balanced judgement can be taken, taking account of the relative significance of the building and its contribution to environmental quality.

•              There have been well-documented failures in retrofit where a ‘Whole House’ approach has not been used; in these cases, moisture has built up, fabric has been damaged, air quality has been reduced, and there have been impacts on health.

•              Historic buildings cannot always accommodate all forms of renewable energy sources. However, provided the type and location of any renewable energy feature is carefully considered, there is often scope to introduce such measures where they can be installed in a reversible manner and without causing material harm to heritage significance.

•              Supporting skilled and appropriate care, repair, maintenance and suitable adaptation of the historic environment to facilitate long-term use, is a carbon management strategy that brings unique benefits to society.

•              Positive action for reuse and regeneration of existing buildings rather than demolition for redevelopment is both sustainable and supports community character and identity. Local Authorities should be encouraged to use their powers on vacant and derelict buildings especially listed buildings and unlisted buildings in conservation areas.

•              The reuse of existing empty homes and vacant space above shops is a priority in the successful regeneration of town centres. A substantial contribution can be made to net zero targets by the re-use, rather than demolition of existing buildings, retaining the embodied energy of existing buildings.

4. What are the financial, regulatory and practical barriers to preserving built heritage?

Increased costs – labour and material

VAT

Funding

• What policy changes are needed to make restoring historic buildings easier and less expensive?
1. Reduce VAT
2. Readily accessible grant funding
3. Support for training

5. What policies would ensure the UK workforce has the right skills to maintain our heritage assets?

Ensuring Local Authorities have the expertise and support to make decisions on the adaption of historic buildings.

Accreditation of experts in this field of work

Allowing work permits for European heritage experts